They both acknowledged it, but then Treena burst out laughing and didn’t fight me when I grabbed my phone.
“Run, Myriam,” I chuffed when I saw what she’d written.
“We gotta leave in five,” she purred before making herself scarce.
Treena waved for my attention. “It is good he figured it out.”
“Yeah, but I’m still going to murder her.”
Me: If that’s how you feel, why didn’t you worship your queen after the coronation?
Onyx: I didn’t want to be pushy. I told you that it’s all on your terms. If you had given me any hint, I would have been at your door seconds later. I will be tonight if you give me the green light.
Me: Hmm, sounds like you didn’t want to upset your brother.
Onyx: Vex can suck my ass and we’re not doing well. I was actually going to ask if I could stay in a guest room until my official turn. I really don’t want this to come to blows.
Me: You won’t fight for my honor?
Onyx: I want you and would do whatever you needed, Sagan. I just know my temper and I would put Kole in the ground andthen Vex and I would fight and… I didn’t think you’d want that mess. To have to punish me.
Me: Fair, but I think you deserved to be punished in other ways.
Onyx: Absolutely. Tell me what you need, baby girl, and I will give it to you. I’ll do whatever you want. Please, I’m begging you.
The answer was so explicit just reading it made me blush.
Onyx: I’m guessing this is Myriam. Give Sagan her phone back before you hurt your friendship with her and I get pissy you’re near her. The joke was amusing, but any more and you know it’s not okay.
I liked his response. I really did.
3
Avior
“I don’t care what you have to do, find out who she really is and where she stays or you won’t be allowed in here again,” the manager threatened me.
“Getting pressure from the owner, huh?” I chuckled darkly, sitting down and keeping my cool. It was easier for me as an ice dragon, but this asshole was getting on my last nerve. Last time it was hints and pushing, this time it was an outright threat.
And I couldn’t figure out why. This female fighter was making this underground fighting ring money.
Likemoney.
Almost any other place was ignored or abandoned. This had always been the hottest spot in Nerthus, but… Nowhere else could cut it now.
Which meant I needed this source of income taking bets here. Well, I didn’tneedit, but I was a greedy man.
It was best to just be honest about that. Plus, as a bookie, I needed a larger emergency cushion than someone with a legal job. I needed to be able to bail at a moment’s notice, change everything about me, and disappear.
I had before, and I would never make the mistake again of not having enough funds readily on hand to make that happen.I would never underestimate thecostof having to run and start all over.
Then again, I wasn’t a kid anymore and had a whole network should I need it.
I snorted when he wouldn’t reply. “Her agent is Metcalf’s daughter. I’m not stupid nor suicidal to get involved there.”
“Listen here—” he started.
“No,you listen, asshole,” I interrupted, my voice calm but threateningly cold. “People would immediately notice if I was gone and ask why. They would know something was rotten here, and that’s a mess you can’t handle especially when I’m pretty sure the owner didn’t tell you to outsource this task. Did he, kitten?”
